Petunia plant named &#39;KLEPH12220&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia  plant particularly distinguished by violet flowers with dark eyes, foliage having strong vein expression, a compact form, and a semi-trailing habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEPH12220’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPH12220’. ‘KLEPH12220’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in July 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Petunia variety ‘R 44’ (unpatented), having purple flowers and the proprietary male Petunia variety ‘PH 2007 0027’ (unpatented), having white flowers.

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEPH12220’ was selected from the group of plants in April 2009, having violet flowers with dark eyes, a compact form, and a semi-trailing habit. In April 2009, ‘KLEPH12220’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture. ‘KLEPH12220’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue culture and terminal tip cuttings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘KLEPH12220’ were applied for in Canada on Feb. 8, 2013, Application No. 13-7926. ‘KLEPH12220’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Violet flowers with dark eyes;

2. Foliage having strong vein expression;

3. A compact form; and

4. A semi-trailing habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows a close-up of the plant's foliage and flowers. The photograph is of a five-month-old plant grown in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2012. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPH12220’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on plants grown ten weeks from cultivation from potting in a glass greenhouse in Latina, Italy in April 2013. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Petunia hybrid.         -   Common.—Petunia.         -   Designation.—‘KLEPH 12220’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Petunia variety ‘R 44’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Petunia variety ‘PH 2007             0027’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Compact.         -   Habit.—Semi-trailing.         -   Height (from top of soil).—About 20.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—About 40.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—8 weeks from             potting, in Spring.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,             white roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Average number (basal).—10.         -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the             tip).—About 20.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.5 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.3 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 143A.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate at the base of the stems, opposite on             the flower stems.         -   Length.—3.5 cm to 3.8 cm.         -   Width.—2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Broad elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute-mucronate.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C Lower surface:             RHS 138B.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137C Lower surface:             RHS 138B.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Slightly pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N137C Lower surface: RHS             138B.         -   Petioles.—Length: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Color:             RHS N137C Texture: Slightly pubescent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular oblong.         -   Length.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 144A.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Permanent flowering             during summer time.         -   Inflorescence type.—Cymose.         -   Number of flowers per node.—1.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 7 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the base             Shape: Funnel form Diameter (flower face): About 6.0 cm             Depth (total length of flower): About 5.5 cm Throat/Funnel:             Length: About 3.0 cm Diameter (at opening): 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm             Texture (both inner and outer surfaces): Smooth, glabrous             Color, immature flower: Face/Margin: RHS 76C Upper surface:             RHS N81A Lower surface: RHS 76C Color, mature flower:             Face/Margin color: RHS 76B and RHS 76A Upper surface: RHS             77A Lower surface: RHS 76B Petals: Color: Inner surface: RHS             77A Outer surface: RHS 76B Apex: Obtuse to mucronate Base:             Fused Margin: Entire Strength of waviness: Weak Degree of             lobation: Weak Calyx arrangement: Actinomorphic, composed of             5 sepals Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137C Lower             surface: RHS 138B Length: 2.5 cm Width: 0.4 cm Shape:             Narrowly oblong Apex: Acute Base: Cuneate Margin: Entire             Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Slightly pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS N137C Length: 3.5 cm to 4.0 cm             Diameter: 0.2 cm Texture: Slightly pubescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 Shape: Needle with elliptic head             Filament: Length: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm Diameter: About 0.05 cm             Color: RHS 145D Anther: Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS 112A             Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 189B             Amount: Abundant.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 1.5 cm Stigma color:             RHS N189B Style color: RHS 145D. -   Fruit and seed set: No fruit and seed set observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH12220’ is a distinct variety of Petunia having violet flowers with dark eyes, a compact form, and a semi-trailing habit and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEPH12220’ ‘R 44’ ‘PH 2007 0027’ Corolla color Violet with dark eyes Purple White

‘KLEPH12220’ is a distinct variety of Petunia violet flowers with dark eyes, a compact form, and a semi-trailing habit and is most similar to the commercial Petunia variety ‘KLEPH07119’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,143). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEPH12220’ ‘KLEPH07119’ Vein expression Stronger vein and darker color Lighter colored veins 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant designated ‘KLEPH12220’ as shown and described herein. 